York Arms, Friern Barnet  

There aren't too many pubs 'round these parts but then - like the number 34 bus you need to get here - two come along at once. The Rising Sun, just over there, is a bog standard corporate pub, while the York Arms is arguably the far more interesting of the two. Hardly touched for years, it's one of those places you don't get to suss out until you actually open the door and venture inside. And inside this is an old style pub for old style regulars, still complete bench seating and two drinking areas separated by the horseshoe shaped bar. Out the front you'll find a seafood stall and the back boasts a nice garden, complete with occasional BBQs. We enjoyed our drinks in relative peace but suspect you'd need to come here a few times if you wanted to be greeted warmly. Even so, you have to give credit to the owners - and the loyal punters - for making sure this dying breed of pub manages to survive in this otherwise pub-deprived area for so long (and therein may lie the secret of it's continued existence).

reviewed:
06/06/2008

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

large beer garden

Link to your pub's web site